No staff on beauty counters

[MadSprocker]

Please tell me I'm not the only one who does this:

If I am in Debenhams or Boots and at a counter (Clinique, Estée Lauder, Urban Decay etc) and no one is there to serve me for a particular product, I just search through the drawers looking for it.

In Boots today there was no one until a girl from Lancôme came over to the Yves Saint Laurent counter and pointed the way to the correct product. I had gone through every drawer twice before she came to help.

Anyone else get frustrated by lack of staff?

Yes!

I went looking for staff at the Clarins counter in Debenhams, HoF and Boots the other week. A nice lady from Estée Lauder helped in Boots, but I realised I had been given the wrong thing when I got home.

Don't know the answer - I guess they're on lunch (as am I - usually go about 1pm).

Oh, I just go through the drawers anyway! It is bothersome when the products contained in the drawers are not those that the drawer is near though, and then I would like some help. I think it's maybe to deter shoplifters?

I do agree that in department stores like Debenhams and Boots they are a bit lacking, but then I was in Space NK at the weekend and the sales assistant in there would not leave me alone, which was quite annoying.

That is a bit annoying when you want a product, I've had the same thing happen myself. On the other hand though, sometimes I like when nobody is on the counter as I can have a good nose at the products without any interruption!

No, I love it when there are no staff. Hate hate hate being pestered by them, I find it really intrusive. Hate the way they always try and make me do the stupid skin type test, then try and flog me a foundation three shades darker and more orange than my skin, then try to flog me two more things I don't want so I can get a free bag with a bright pink lipstick, green eyeshadow and four samples that won't work for me. And then get all huffy when I say, thanks, I don't want to give you my postcode or go on your database.